Overarching Goal and Objectives:

Goal:

to build leadership and life skills of youth in the Americas through exchange, civic engagement, and collaborative community development

Objectives:

1. increase active youth involvement in communities
2. increase knowledge and awareness of cultural, environmental, and health issues
3. collaborate with community members on Community-Based Initiative (CBI) process

Project Specific Activities:

Volunteers will work with the Ministry of Health to build about 20 latrines in each community and facilitate educational activities on latrine maintenance with families.  Volunteers will also work with other community groups to plan and implement smaller Community-Based Initiatives (CBI) that benefit the community.  Examples of CBI’s from 2007 include planting trees, community cleanup efforts and school murals.

In terms of education, Volunteers will run day camps for children during the two week Paraguayan winter break, which includes extracurricular activities on health and environment.  When school is in session, Volunteers will work with community youth to facilitate educational activities several times a week for children between the ages of 5-12.  Educational activities will focus on health and the environment, but will also include components of creative expression, youth leadership and team building.  Sample topics of educational activities from 2007 projects include nutrition, cultural exchange, recycling and dental hygiene.

Another aspect of the program is that when Volunteers are in community, they may have the opportunity to partner with a student from the Fundación Paraguaya’s agricultural school for 10 days.  The agricultural school students bring an expertise in organic agriculture and entrepreneurship to communities to share with interested community members.

Project Area:

Paraguarí is located in southern Paraguay, roughly an hour and a half southwest of the country’s capital, Asunción. Paraguarí is made up of fertile forested lowlands, with hills in the northeastern area, and the Tebicuary River along the southern border. The land is flat and rolling, with small plateaus and hills spread out in the distance. The economy of Paraguarí is based primarily on the harvesting of lumber and agricultural production. Not only will Volunteers have the chance to improve their Spanish skills in Paraguay, but they will also be assured of picking up some Guaraní, an indigenous language used in social settings in host communities.

Project History:

AMIGOS initiated its work in Paraguay in 1972 in partnership with the Ministry of Health. For a number of years the project included a combination of human immunizations and community sanitation efforts. In 1993, AMIGOS expanded its work and divided the projects into two separate projects, one project focused on human immunizations based in Asunción and another focused on Community Sanitation based in a nearby region.

Eight years ago, AMIGOS discontinued the human immunizations project, redirecting efforts towards community sanitation, health and environmental education. This will continue to be our focus, along with the active involvement of youth into community development programs. 2008 will also mark our fifth year of collaboration with Junior Achievement.

Partner Agencies:

Fundación Paraguaya/Junior Achievement
SENASA

Further Actions:

• Apply to Volunteer
• Apply to Serve on Project Staff
• View Photos from the 2007 Project in Paraguay!